3 Responses to You haven’t seen me. Right?

As a Lewisham resident I am disgusted that this person masqueraded as a Lewisham councillor. She certainly kept a low profile in Whitefoot ward-she was as elusive as the scarlet pimpernel. She was not fit to lace the shoes of the previous incumbent and should resign as soon as possible.
The people of Whitefoot deserve better than this.

I totally agree with Andrew. As I hope you would agree that your comments also apply to this former Labour councillor and member of the Mayor’s Cabinet.

Strangely you never seemed to mention this case on your blog?

Case no. SBE4889.03

APE Tribunal no. APE0231

Member: Councillor Singha

Authority: Lewisham, London Borough of

Date received: 15 Sep 2003

Date referred to the Adjudication Panel for England: 04 Oct 2004

Date completed: 13 Jan 2005

Allegation: A member brought his office or authority into disrepute.

SBE outcome: The Ethical Standards Officer referred the matter to the Adjudication Panel for England for determination by a tribunal.

APE outcome:
The member was disqualified for two years.

The complainant alleged that Councillor Parmavir Singha brought his authority into disrepute when he pleaded guilty of an offence under the Vagrancy Act 1824 at Bow Street Magistrates’ Court on 29 August 2003. Councillor Singha was charged with indecently exposing himself to a female student in the library of the London School of Economics on 27 August 2003. The court fined Councillor Singha and ordered him to pay compensation and costs.

The Ethical Standards Officer referred this matter to the Adjudication Panel for England for determination by a case tribunal.

The Adjudication Panel’s case tribunal decided that Councillor Singha had breached the Code of Conduct and brought his office and authority into disrepute by behaving in a way that led to a criminal conviction. The case tribunal therefore concluded that Councillor Singha failed to comply with the Code of Conduct.

The case tribunal noted that Councillor Singha has since resigned from the Lewisham Council. In addition, the case tribunal took into account the Standards Board for England’s delay in bringing the case before it.

The case tribunal decided to disqualify Councillor Singha for two years, effective from 13 January 2005.

Relevant Paragraphs of the Code of Conduct

The allegation in this case relates to Paragraph 4 of the Code of Conduct. Paragraph 4 states that “a member must not in his official capacity, or any other circumstance, conduct himself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing his office or authority into disrepute”.

Mark, from what is in the public domain I think you and your party have been decieved by your former colleague, who seems to have failed to inform your party and the electorate of a fair few relevant details when putting herself forward as a candidate.

I suspect, on this occasion, it’ll be your processes for choosing candidates that will come under scrutiny rather than others.